England
Wesley looked around the locked cell in despair. The Council had locked him up for dereliction of duty. His duty to the Slayers. Faith dead, Buffy on her own. The Rebel Watcher and his Rebel Slayer. Did they know what had happened? Did they care?
Wesley was no longer certain just how long he had been there. He didn't know if it were day or night. The worst part was that he was no longer certain if he cared.
Sunnydale
Buffy patrolled through one of the cemeteries. It was quiet. There was a serious lack of demonic activity since the failed Ascension. It was quiet, it was serene and Buffy Summers was going out of her mind with boredom. "C'mon?" Buffy groaned in to the silent night. "Just one vamp." She walked on. Suddenly,
she turned in a defense posture.
"Ask and ye shall receive Slayer." Spike said as he leaned against a tree.
"What are you doing here Spike?" Buffy asked warily. "You stay away from my Mom and you stay away from Willow." She warned.
"I can have anyone else?" Spike asked wickedly. "Don't get your knickers in a twist, Slayer. I'm not here for the Witch. Although, your Mum makes a hot chocolate to ..." He grinned. "... Die for."
"Feeling suicidal are you Spike?" Buffy asked in a dangerous voice.
"I ain't stupid Ducks." Spike told her. "Your Mum's safe from me. I need to talk to you and your Watcher."
Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Just bring him to the mansion." Spike told her. "I know you don't trust me, but there's something you two need to know."
"So tell me." Buffy said through gritted teeth.
"Sorry Ducks." Spike said cheerfully. "You're supposed to find out together."
"And who made that rule?" Buffy asked sarcastically.
"Whistler."
*-*-*-*
"Whistler?" Giles asked. He looked at Buffy. She had arrived a few minutes before with her rather bizarre tale.
"Strange little demon that switched sides." Buffy told him. "Helped with Acathala."
"You never mentioned him before." Giles commented.
"Yeah, I did." Buffy said, then looked uncertain. "Didn't I?"
"I'm sure I would remember a good demon named Whistler." Giles stated with absolute certainty.
"Anyway," Buffy moved on. "What about Spike? Do you think we should trust him?"
"No." Giles told her. "But we should find out what he wants. Lead the way."
*-*-*-*
Buffy and Giles made their way to the mansion. They checked thoroughly before they went inside. Spike appeared to be alone, but they remained cautious.
"I'm hurt, truly, that you don't trust me." Spike said drolly.
"Cut the crap Spike." Buffy told him. "And get to the point. How do we know that Whistler really sent you?"
"He didn't send me." Spike corrected. "Just said that he made the rules. He told me to ask you how raiding an Englishman's fridge is like dating a nun."
Buffy looked at him oddly and pain crossed her face as she remembered the conversation. She and Whistler had been in Giles' house. Giles had been at the mansion being tortured by Angelus.
"Buffy, are you all right?" Giles asked concerned.
"Yeah." Buffy said softly without meeting his eyes.
"Well, Slayer?" Spike said. "You gonna tell me? How is raiding an Englishman's fridge like dating a nun?"
Buffy looked at him and answered dully. "You're never going to get the good stuff."
"The wanker." Spike said miffed. Even Giles looked a bit insulted.
[Thanks Whistler] Buffy thought. "So, what's the big news that you couldn't tell me without Giles?"
"Council's grabbed your Watcher." Spike told them. They looked at him blankly. "The other one. The upstart."
"Wesley? Why?" Buffy asked.
"Dereliction of duty." Giles said. "Damn! I never thought that they would do that."
"Do what?" Buffy asked.
"It's an archaic Council law." Giles informed her. "Hasn't been dusted off for three centuries."
"That doesn't tell me what it means Giles." Buffy pointed out.
"It means they've locked him up." Spike said.
"Travers doing, I'd wager." Giles commented. "The man's a ..." He looked at Buffy and cut his words off.
"What will they do to him?" Buffy asked. She'd heard Giles do some pretty creative swearing in the last few months. It must be bad if he wouldn't say it. "Will they hurt him?"
"Undoubtedly." Giles responded. "If they haven't already."
"Wesley doesn't take pain well." Buffy said worriedly. "We have to do something."
"Do what, exactly?" Giles asked warily. He knew his Slayer.
"We can't just leave him there." Buffy said.
"And what do you suggest we do?" Giles asked, even though he knew the answer.
"We get him out." Buffy said simply.
Spike watched them fascinated. They had forgotten about him. He knew what they would decide. The arrangements had already been made. That's why he had to tell them together. Whistler didn't want either one of them attempting the rescue alone.
"And do you have any idea of how we should go about that?" Giles asked. "We don't even know where he is."
"That's what I'm here for." Spike said easily. "I know where he is." The Slayer looked at him suspiciously, he understood that. The Watcher, though, looked at him angrily.
"Thank you so much." Giles said acidly.
Spike understood now. He'd never seen people so bloody protective of a Slayer.
"Look Mate," He said to the Watcher. "I didn't set all this up, Whistler did. He didn't want either one of you going after the dolt alone."
"Wesley may be excessively annoying, but he isn't a dolt." Buffy told him.
"Thought you didn't like him." Spike commented "We made our peace before he left." Buffy said quietly. "He doesn't deserve this. The Council had no right. The last thing they did that was of any use was sending Giles. Quite frankly, I don't think they knew what they were doing. Where is Wes?"
Spike looked at his watch. "Meet back here in two hours. Be ready for a long trip." He looked at the Watcher, took in his attire. "I recommend you leave the suits behind." Giles returned Spike's look with narrowed eyes. "And Whistler said to warn you." Spike continued. "They're watching you."
"The Council?" Buffy asked. "They've been watching for a while. They're really not very good at it."
"Can you keep them from knowing you're gone?" Spike asked.
"For a while, maybe." Buffy told him. She tilted her head to the side. "What's your stake in all this?" She asked Spike.
Spike laughed shortly. "I'm Whistler's latest recruit. Truth is, I don't have much of a choice."
"Is that supposed to reassure us?" Giles asked. "Because I find that I am unimpressed."
Spike looked at the man. He looked mild mannered, until you looked into his eyes. His eyes were the only obvious reminder of what this man had endured at the hands of Angelus. Of what he was capable, should you threaten his Slayer. This was not a man to underestimate. "Reassurance isn't in my job description."
"No kidding." Buffy said drily. "Try anyway."
"Like I said, I don't have a choice." Spike told her. "Whistler saw to that. Like it or not, I'm on your side now. Here I am."
"Oh yes, that's so much better." Giles' voice dripped sarcasm.
*-*-*-*
Giles went home and so di Buffy. Buffy packed a duffle bag with practical (for her) clothes. She filled her supply bag until it wouldn't hold anymore. She wrote a quick note for Willow and told her what she could, which wasn't much. She asked her to help her Mom retain the illusion that she was there.
Then, she left her bags in the upstairs hall and went into her Mom's room. She sat on the edge of the bed and gently woke her. "Mom."
Joyce awoke with a start. "Buffy? What is it? Is something wrong?"
Buffy stopped her from turning on a light, "I have to go away for a while Mom. And I need you to do something for me."
"Go away?" Joyce echoed. "Where? Why? Has something happened?"
"It's better if you don't know." Buffy told her. "Someone's in trouble. And I have to go. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"Buffy ..." Joyce began worried and confused.
"I have to Mom." Buffy said firmly. "If I don't, ... Someone could die. I need you to act as if I'm still here. Sick or something." She hands her the letter for Willow. "Will and the others can help. This will explain to her what I need for her to do. And no, I didn't tell her where I was going or why."
"Are you going alone?" Joyce asked. Buffy shook her head. "Is Mr. Giles going with you?"
"Yes." Buffy said. "There's three of us, maybe a fourth at some point." Joyce dreaded her next question. "Angel?"
Buffy shook her head again. "No. Though he would if we asked." She took a deep breath. "He may end up in Sunnydale if he's need. Willow and Oz know how to reach him if necessary." She hugged her Mom. "I hated to wake you, but I didn't want to leave with just a note."
Joyce hugged her back. She didn't want to let go. "Be careful."
"I will." Buffy assured her. "Don't worry, Giles will take care of me."
"Take care of each other." Joyce told her.
"I love you Mom." Buffy told her and pulled back.
"I love you too." Joyce returned. She watched her daughter go. Go to face God knew what.
*-*-*-*
Buffy returned to the mansion. Once again, she checked it out carefully before she went inside. She waited, with Spike, for Giles and paced the entire time.
She stopped, stunned when Giles walked in. He wore a pair of faded jeans, a T-shirt and a black leather jacket. He carried duffle and weapons bags much like her own. She looked him over, it was a shame he didn't dress like that all the time.
"Everybody ready then?" Spike asked.
*-*-*-*
"Oh, this looks like fun." Buffy said flatly as she looked around their 'accommodations'. It was an old, battered cargo ship. They were in one of the holds.
"It'll do." Giles said quietly. He preferred it to the old cargo plane they'd taken to New York from Sunnydale. Quite a chance Spike had taken with that. He looked at their guide.
Spike had gone over to a crate, opened it and started tossing out blankets. "All the comforts of home." He nodded towards another crate. "Food in there."
"And yours?" Giles asked.
"I know where it is." Spike stated.
"I don't want to come across any bodies Spike." Buffy warned.
"You won't." Spike responded, none too happy.
"I hope someone brought a deck of cards." Buffy muttered.
Giles laid out several of the blankets, making two make shift beds. Close, but not too close, together. "You should get some rest Buffy." Giles told her.
"What about you?" Buffy asked in response. "You've been up longer than I have and you didn't nap on the plane."
"I'm quite used to little or no sleep." Giles replied.
Buffy shrugged. "So'm I."
"Go to sleep Buffy."
Spike watched them in amusement. They didn't trust him, not that he blamed them. He made no secret of the fact that he didn't want to be there, even though that wasn't quite true. He looked at the pair arrange themselves and had to wonder if Angel knew what was up with them. Spike grinned, maybe they would let him tell him. [This might not be so bad.]
*************
Buffy rolled over in her make shift bed and faced Giles. As tired as she was, she couldn't sleep. She was cold and frightened. Plus, with Spike so close she was Slayer tense. She looked at Giles as he faced her. His eyes were closed and she was pretty sure he was asleep. She scooted closer to him and gently, so as not to wake him, put her hand on his much larger one.
Giles, however, was not asleep. He turned his hand over and held hers firmly, but gently. "What is it Buffy?" He asked softly.
"I can't sleep." Buffy told him, then mumbled, "And I'm cold."
Giles leaned up on his elbow and looked at her carefully. "No, it's more than that." Her face was filled with apprehension. "Are you worried about Spike?"
Buffy shook her head. "Not really."
"Then, what is it?" Giles asked again.
"Wesley." Buffy finally told him, her voice barely audible. "It's my fault."
"It's not your fault." Giles assured her. "This is Travers doing."
"To get at me." Buffy stated. She shivered from the cold and something else.
Giles tugged on her hand until she scooted closer. Normally, he wouldn't have dared this, but these were extenuating events. He wrapped his arms around her and felt her snuggle into them.
"How can you be so warm?" Buffy asked with a sigh as his body heat began to seep in to her body. "Giles?"
Giles wasn't about to answer her last question. "Hmm?" He responded as he attempted to sound distracted. He was. He rubbed his hands on her back and arms.
The sound rumbled through her ear where it rested on his chest, she shivered again. Giles wrapped the blankets tightly around her. "Will they kill Wesley?" Giles froze and that was answer enough for her. "Why?"
"It's power Buffy." Giles told her. "Control. Don't worry, we'll get him out all right."
"Then what?" Buffy asked. "Who's next? Will they keep getting closer to me? Dad? Oz? Xander? Willow? My Mom?" She pulled back and looked at him. "You?"
"I don't know." Giles told her sadly, not quite aware of the order she had just used. "They might." He admitted.
"What do we do?" Buffy asked. "We have to do something."
"How?" Giles asked. "We can't take on the entire Council."
"Maybe ... Maybe we don't have to." Buffy said desperately. "Maybe just Travers. They can't all be like him. They sent Merrick. And they sent you. And Wesley isn't a terrible person."
Giles' arms tightened around her. "There used to be some very good people on the Council. I haven't a clue as to what could have happened that they would allow this though."
"Can you find them?" Buffy asked. "After we get Wesley free?"
"Perhaps." Giles answered noncommittally. He had a pretty good idea of where she was headed with this. It could work. Or, it could make things worse. He nudged her head back down to his chest, unable to release her now she was there. "Sleep now. We'll start planning our strategy tomorrow. And for the rest of the voyage, you'll need to train like never before."
"First Spike. Now extra training." Buffy sighed dramatically. "The Council is so going to pay for this."
*-*-*-*
They had already eaten and begun training when Spike joined them. He watched them and had to admit, they were a helluva pair. They fought each other hand to hand and even though he could tell they were holding back, they were still going at it pretty good. "Well, it's nice to know you can entertain yourselves."
"Where are they holding Wesley?" Giles asked without preamble or losing his concentration.
Spike leaned against a crate. "Just outside London."
"Which direction?" Giles asked next as he and Buffy continued to spar.
"South." Spike told him.
"Stanton's estate?" Giles questioned further.
Spike's eyes narrowed and he straightened from the crate. "How'd you know that?"
Giles finally called a halt to the training and looked at Spike. "As soon as Buffy left the Council, I made it my business to know." He took a drink from a water bottle that sat on a nearby crate, then handed it to Buffy. "I know them, I know their families and I know who they're sleeping with." He gave a half smile. "Actually, most of them aren't sleeping with anyone. Probably why they're so ... Unpleasant."
"All that pent up frustration isn't good for you." Buffy concurred.
"Oh and by the way." Giles said almost off hand, which put Buffy immediately on alert. "I've made arrangements for some ... assistance, once we reach London."
"What kind of ... assistance?" Spike asked warily.
Buffy looked at Giles closely and tried to read his expression. Then it clicked and her eyes widened. "No!" She said adamantly.
"I'm afraid so." Giles returned.
"Are you crazy?" Buffy asked. "I trust him even less than I trust Spike. At least Spike isn't a coward."
"He's just goin' to help me with a bit of magick." Giles said, unaware that his accent had slipped.
"What kind of magick?" Buffy asked. "Ethan doesn't do good magick.
"Exactly why we need him." Giles pointed out.
Buffy threw up her hands and walked off, muttering under breath.
Spike snorted a short laugh. What had they said about frustration?
Giles looked at Spike. "So what is Whistler's grand plan?"
"I never said he had one." Spike told him.
"Just bloody fantastic." Giles muttered. "Will he be joining us in London?"
Spike shrugged. "Didn't say."
"What did he say?" Giles asked.
"I already told you." Spike said. "If he knows more, which he probably does, he didn't tell me."
This time it was Giles that walked off muttering and Spike grinned.
*-*-*-*
They passed days like that. They trained, even Spike, they ate and they slept. After that first night, Buffy and Giles slept together. Nothing sexual, they just both felt the reassurance of the physical contact. At least, that's what they told themselves. Spike watched them with a humorous eye.
London
Wesley waited. How long had he been there? Days, weeks? And still he waited. Travers told him they wouldn't come for him and Wesley tried not to believe him. The truth was though, that he couldn't think of a single reason why they should. They would be happy to see the last of him. Wesley shut his eyes on the memory of his last meeting with Buffy.
"Wesley, I'm not going back to the Council." Buffy said. "They don't care about me. Nothing I've done matters to them."
"That's not true Buffy." Wesley stated, though he knew very well it was true.
"Buffy, you don't know what they'll do." He finally told her. His voice, barely
audible.
Buffy looked at him oddly. "So, why don't you tell me? Is it what they would have done to Faith? Put me on trial and put me to death? They can't do that. I haven't done anything. Wesley, I've fought for nearly four years, what have they done for me? They sent me Merrick. They sent me Giles. That was it. The one time I ask them for help, they say no. Why do I need them? I don't."
"Buffy, the Council ..." Wesley began.
"Screw the Council!" Buffy said. "If you were smart, you'd dump them too. They don't care about you either. If they did, they wouldn't have sent you so ... unprepared."
Wesley knew she was right, but he didn't know anything else.
Wesley wished he'd listened. Buffy was wrong about one thing though, a trial would not enter into it.
*-*-*-*
The ship docked in Liverpool. Once night fell, they left the ship and headed for London. Spike swore that the car had been left for them, but Buffy and Giles weren't certain they believed him.
Giles directed them to a small pub in the heart of London. Giles wanted to go in alone, but Buffy refused to let him out of her sight. Spike joined them because, ... well, it was a pub.
Once inside, Giles lead the way to a back room, a room for private games of pool. Inside was one man.
Ethan looked up from his shot as the trio entered. He looked at his old friend up and down. "Welcome home Ripper."
"Did you do what I ask?" Giles asked without preamble.
"Asked?" Ethan echoed. "Sounded more like a threat to me." He took his shot. "It's set for tomorrow night." He missed the shot.
"Never could play worth a damn." Giles commented.
"Don't start with me." Ethan said easily. "You up for a game?" He asked.
"Why the hell not?" Giles commented. "Can't do anything 'til tomorrow anyway."
Buffy and Spike looked at each other, then back to the other two. Giles' accent had slipped again. "Giles?" Buffy said uncertainly.
Giles looked at Buffy and Spike. "You playin' or watchin'?
Spike took off his duster and grabbed a cue stick.
"Buffy?" Giles asked. "You play pool?"
"A bit." Buffy admitted. "But not for a long time."
"There's your handicap Ripper." Ethan told him.
Giles shrugged, unconcerned. "Rack 'em." He told Ethan.
Ethan broke and managed to a couple of shots. Then came Giles turn and Buffy watched fascinated as he played with a skill she couldn't believe. He made it look easy. Spike took his own turn, and while he wasn't as good as Giles, he was better than Ethan.
Then, it was Buffy turn. She took off her leather jacket, and after a moments consideration, her flannel shirt. Clad in one of her shoestring tops and tight blue jeans, she moved to take her shot, unaware of three admiring gazes.
Giles had a marvelously unobstructed view of her backside, and he stared at it transfixed. Ethan and Spike, however, were on the other side of the table. Bent
down, Buffy's top gaped and when she made her shot, her breasts jiggled. Not a one of them noticed that Buffy made her shot.
Buffy moved around the table as she studied it. The views, this time were now reversed. Giles swallowed with difficulty. He tried to look away, but couldn't. When she made her shot, he nearly groaned. When he finally managed to tear his eyes away for fear of a stroke, he saw the other two men enjoying the view he had a moment ago. "Ethan, Spike." Giles said in a low, dangerous voice.
The two men looked at him guiltily, but defiant. Buffy looked at him bewildered. The pool game was a little strained after that. Buffy and Giles won, but a glare from Giles prevented Ethan from suggesting a rematch.
All three men watched in regret as Buffy put her shirt and jacket back on. "Where do we go from here?" Buffy asked, oblivious to the undercurrents going on around her.
Ethan grinned. "That would be my place. Plenty of room."
"You've got to be kidding." Buffy said flatly and looked at Giles. Giles looked sheepish. "Actually, he's not." Buffy looked at him in disbelief and he tried to explain. "Who'd look for us at Ethan's?"
"First Spike, then the boat and extra training and now Ethan." Buffy muttered to herself. "Travers is so going to die."
"Not something I have a problem with Ducks." Spike said happily. Buffy rolled her eye and moved to stand next to Giles.
*-*-*-*
As they followed Ethan, Spike, Giles and Buffy were quiet. There was a tension that hadn't been there before and Buffy couldn't stand it any longer. "What did I miss?" She finally asked.
Giles looked at her, his expression carefully blank and Spike kept his eyes on the road for the first time they had gotten into the car. Buffy looked from one to the other, then settled on Giles. "Giles?"
"How could you have missed anything?" Giles asked. "You were right there." "I don't know, but I missed something." Buffy returned. Again, she looked from one to the other. "Was it Ethan?"
"Look Ducks," Spike began. "When you ..."
"Spike." Giles' hard tone sliced through the car.
"Don't you think she should know?" Spike asked in return.
"Not here, not now, not you." Giles said firmly. Spike shrugged.
Buffy looked at Giles again. "Giles?"
"Not now Buffy." Giles told her.
Buffy gave him a look that clearly said that they would discuss it later and Giles nodded.
They reached Ethan's row house on the edge of town. "Home sweet home. Ethan said as he opened the door.
Buffy hadn't known what to expect. Ethan was ... well, Ethan. But, it was very nice. Apparently, Ethan liked nice things.
"Bedrooms are on the third floor." Ethan told them. "They're are two, besides mine." He smirked. "Divide them how you wish." He looked at Buffy.
"You could make it simple and share min ..." He choked on the last word as one of Ripper's hands gripped his throat tightly.
"Don't." Giles warned. His tone and his look were a warning as well. His grip tightened a fraction before he let go.
Buffy watched wide eyed. Spike reminded himself not to underestimate that man.
Giles looked at Buffy. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day." Buffy nodded and followed Giles up the stairs and to one of the bedrooms.
Ethan and Spike exchanged amused looks.
*-*-*-*
Buffy and Giles walked into one of the bedrooms and Giles closed the door behind them. He looked at Buffy suddenly awkward. "Are you certain about this?" He asked and gestured at the bedroom. It had seemed perfectly natural, until he had closed the door. "I could find ..."
"No." Buffy said quickly. "I really don't trust Ethan. Or Spike particularly. I'd feel better if we stayed together." She shrugged self-consciencely. "Do you mind?"
"O-of course not." Giles said stiffly.
Giles looked around the room curiously. A large four poster bed, an oak dresser, full length cheval mirror, a night stand and a connecting bathroom.
"Ethan has better taste than I would have thought."
Giles looked around as well. "Ethan's always had expensive tastes."
Buffy looked at him. "You gonna tell me now? About what you wouldn't let Spike tell me?" She asked.
Giles took a deep breath. He took Buffy by the shoulders and stood her in front of the mirror. He took off her jacket and threw it on the bed, next came the flannel shirt and it joined her jacket.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked confused and a bit nervous.
Giles didn't answer, he moved to stand behind her. "Position yourself as if you were taking a pool shot."
Buffy looked at him still confused. "What?"
Giles once again took her shoulders, he turned her back to face the mirror again. Then, he pushed her over so that she was bent at the waist. "Look at the mirror." He instructed. Then, he took her hands and moved them in an imitation of a pool shot. The feel of her, as well the sight disturbed him more than he wanted to admit.
Buffy gasped and straightened. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Giles flushed and wouldn't meet her eyes, as he carefully moved away from her. "I-I didn't wish to embarrass you. I didn't let them look."
"They looked? "Buffy asked. "Ewww!" She made a face and didn't notice Giles' reaction.
"I suggest we get some rest." Giles told her. He refused to comment on who had enjoyed the view. He had no right to criticize the others. [Who wouldn't have looked?] He asked, as if that were an excuse. He watched Buffy gather her clothes and head into the bathroom to change. How would she feel if she knew that he had not only looked, but had enjoyed it immensely?
*****************
When Buffy came back out a few minutes later, Giles was already in the bed. The very edge of the bed and facing away from her. She bit her lip. Since they had started this, she hardly recognized him. He seemed ... Dangerous. She sat on the bed and turned out the light. She slipped under the covers as she laid down.
Buffy thought more about the change in Giles. No matter how much he slipped in to Ripper mode, she wasn't scared, not of him. She trusted him. She loved him. It bothered her that he might never know that. They had never talked said, never talked about it. Strange that an outsider had been the first to bring it up.
Travers was wrong though, father and daughter did not describe them, not exclusively. Name any possible relationship between a man and a woman and they shared it to some extent. Father/daughter - okay, upon occasion. Brother/sister - more and more often. Mother/son - sometimes. Husband/wife - she had to admit there were elements, more so lately. They were all that and so much more. They depended on each other for their very lives on a daily basis. And, although lovers had never entered into it, they were intimate. Intimate in a way that came from sharing everything, except their bodies. Buffy thought about whether he knew how much he meant to her. She rolled over and pressed against his back. She felt him freeze as she wrapped her arm around his waist and pressed her cheek to his back and held him tight. It felt so nice. "Giles?"
Giles barely managed to hold himself still. "Is something wrong Buffy?" His voice sounded strained even to his own ears. Her hand moved to rest over his heart.
"I love you Giles." Buffy said softly. "I just wanted you to know that before ..."
Giles felt her sigh against his back. "I know Buffy. And I- I love you too." She'd had too much time to think about what could happen tomorrow night.
"We'll get through this. And we'll get Wesley out all right."
"Why don't we ever talk about it Giles?" Buffy asked.
Giles didn't pretend to misunderstand. "We've never needed to." He put his hand over hers on his chest and linked their fingers. He knew they were headed in to dangerous territory, but he could never deny her comfort. "And, I don't think that words are quite adequate."
"I'm scared Giles." Buffy whispered.
Giles rolled around then and took Buffy into his arms and put her head on his chest. "I know. It will be all right. I promise."
They fell asleep like that, wrapped in each others arms. Each thinking how nice it felt, how much better they felt knowing that the other was just a touch away.
*-*-*-*
Ethan and Spike, instead of going to bed, went to Ethan's study. Ethan looked at Spike as he handed him a brandy. "How did you know that he would contact me?" Ethan asked as they settles in the wing chairs in front of the fireplace.
Spike took a sip of excellent brandy. "Studied him. He'd make a deal with the devil himself if it would protect his Slayer."
Ethan laughed at the implication. "How long has that been going on anyway? Last time I saw him, he and Joyce were ... shall we say, familiar, though they were under the influence of a curse."
Spike looked surprised. "Really. He really is a lucky bastard isn't he? I'm rather fond of Joyce. Nothing going on with him and the Slayer. Yet. Soon though if I don't miss my guess."
Ethan grinned. "Maybe we could help it along then." He suggested Spike looked intrigued. "What d'you have in mind?"
"Well, no magick." Ethan said. "Ripper would kill me. We'll have to think of something."
*-*-*-*
Giles woke up to find a warm weight half on top of him. Buffy, still asleep, was lying half over him. One of her legs was thrown across his thighs, her arm across his stomach and her head rested on his chest. He nearly groaned at the sensations. He loved waking up with her in his arms, had gotten used to it quickly. How would he sleep without her when they returned home? He allowed himself the luxury of a kiss on the top of her head, then extricated himself from her embrace. He gathered his clothes and went into the bathroom.
When he came back out, Buffy was still asleep. He watched her with longing for a minute before he left the room, calling himself an old fool.
He went downstairs and found Ethan and Spike in the kitchen. He noticed that the entire house as far as he could tell had been sunproofed. "We need to talk." He said as he walked in.
Ethan gave him an amused look. "Shouldn't you be in a better mood?"
Giles glared at him, but didn't respond to the taunt. "We need to find the best way to protect Buffy."
"Protect the Slayer?" Spike asked. "Never seen anyone less in need of protection."
"Nevertheless, we will protect her." Giles told him. "we'll cast several spells this afternoon. Protection spells, cloaking spells, anything we can think of that will give us the advantage. Make no mistake, they are expecting us." This surprised neither of them, he realized. He was certain that Buffy also knew.
"If you knew it was a trap, why did you come?" Ethan asked, curious.
"And let Buffy come alone?" Giles asked in returned.
"Did you tell her it was a trap?" Ethan asked next.
"Buffy knows a trap when she sees one." Giles told him.
"And you let her come anyway?" Ethan asked surprised.
"Let?" Giles echoed. "Do you really think I could have stopped her?" Ethan looked at Spike, who shook his head no, then looked back to Rupert.
"Time was, you could have stopped her." He commented.
"When Buffy sets her mind to something, not even death will deter her." Giles said wryly. "Ripper at his worst wouldn't have stood a chance." He was unaware of the pride that sounded so loud to the other two. "The best I can do is help her and protect her any way I can." His eyes turned cold.
"Besides, I have my own score to settle with Travers."
Travers must have hurt Buffy, Ethan decided. He had met Travers, otherwise he might have felt sorry for the bastard.
*-*-*-*
Buffy woke to an empty room. She knew it was empty before she even opened her eyes. She'd had the strangest dream. A castle and a tower and a dragon. She knew it meant something. Not exactly prophetic, but something. What? And ... Who was the knight?
She got up and went into the bathroom. It wasn't until after she had dried off from her shower that she realized that she had forgotten to bring her clothes in with her. She tucked the large towel around her and went into the bedroom.
And found Giles, looking for something. "Buffy have you seen ..." His words trailed off as he saw her. She stared back at him in nothing but a towel and a surprised expression.
"Forgot my clothes." Buffy said weakly. She had had her fair share of male attention, but she'd never felt like this from a simple look. Of course, there was nothing simple about his look. "G-Giles?" She sounded breathless.
Giles snapped out of it when he heard his name. His eyes met hers for a brief moment before he turned and silently left the room.
Buffy stood rooted, she felt seared by his last look. It was a full two minutes before she thought to move.
*-*-*-*
Giles went downstairs and passed Ethan and Spike without noticing them. They exchange a look and followed him. Giles went into the study, straight to the bar, poured himself a scotch and downed it in one gulp. He considered another one, but decided against tit. One might ease the tension, two could have him back upstairs.He turned around and found Ethan and Spike watching him.
Ethan knew him well enough to know what the drink was for, to an extent.
What had happened up there? "You all right?"
"We have plans to make." Was all Giles said. "Buffy will be down in a few minutes." Ethan and Spike exchanged another look. This time Giles saw it. He narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Somethin' wrong with the Slayer?" Spike asked.
"Not that I could see." Giles muttered.
The other two drew their own conclusions and resisted grins.
When Buffy did join them a few minutes after that, she and Giles couldn't meet each others eyes. Ethan and Spike watched, amused.
They followed Ethan to the cellar, where He had set up an altar. Several protection and cloaking spells later, they were nearly finished.
Giles picked up a small pair of scissors from the altar and turned to Buffy.
"May I?"
"What?" Buffy asked, confused.
"I need a lock of your hair." Giles explained.
"Why?" Buffy asked next.
"Just another protection spell." Giles said easily. He saw Ethan look at him sharply and ignored him.
Buffy searched his expression for any hint of ... something. Finally she moved to stand in front of him, her back to him.
Giles touched her hair and, unable to resist, ran his fingers through it. He felt her shiver. He took a small lock of hair, from underneath, where it wouldn't be noticed. He let his fingers linger just a moment before he moved away. "Why don't you and Spike double check the weapons? Ethan and I will finish up here."
Buffy knew that he was just sending her off, she just didn't know why. She assumed that he didn't want her to witness any kind of dark magick. She knew he sensitive about that, especially after Eyghon. She just didn't understand why he needed her hair. She left wishing that she'd paid more attention when he and Willow talked magick.
Ethan turned on Rupert as soon as the door closed behind Buffy and Spike.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? You lied to her."
"Since when did you become the spokesman for honesty?" Giles asked sarcastically. "And it is protection."
"For her." Ethan pointed out. "How do you think she'll feel when she finds out?"
"That's why I have no intention of her finding out." Giles said with an implied threat.
"At least tell her the truth." Ethan urged.
"Buffy is my responsibility and I will protect her the best I can. Giles said firmly. "I failed her once. I will not do so again."
Ethan looked at him in incomprehension. "Failed her? How could you ..."
Realization dawned and even Ethan felt a bit horrified. "The Crucamentium? You put her through it? Why?"
"I had no choice." Giles said through clenched teeth. "You what the Council is like. I felt like I had some control. I didn't, but it felt like I did. At least in the beginning."
"That's the score you have to settle with Travers. Isn't it?" Ethan asked.
Giles eyes went cold as ice. "He let that monster take Buffy's Mother. You should have seen her Ethan. Battered, bruised, beaten, frightened. Physically and emotionally raw. Travers, so bloody arrogant and condescending. As if he had every right ... As if we had any right to torture her in that way. And it was torture, cruel and ... As if she were there for us to simply judge. It was unforgivable."
"And yet, she has forgiven you." Ethan pointed gently.
"Amazingly, she has." Giles agreed. "But, I will never forgive myself." He said quietly. "I put a needle in her Ethan. Poisoned her, weakened her. I saw what it was doing to her. The fear. I set her up to, in all probability, die. I don't
think I can ever forgive myself for that."
"Self pity." Ethan commented blandly. "That's a new look for you."
"Self pity has nothing to do with it." Giles said harshly. "You weren't there Ethan, let it go."
"You don't need to do this." Ethan said knowing he wasted his breath.
"I want to do this." Giles said firmly. "For Buffy. They want her dead, they want a Slayer they can control. I had hoped that with the new Slayer, after Faith ... I had hoped that she would be enough."
"But they're greedy bastards." Ethan concluded. "And they want you both dead. Rupert, Buffy is more than capable of taking care of herself. She'll need you at full strength to help her. She won't appreciate ..."
"Just do it Ethan."
*-*-*-*
Spike watched the Slayer as she double checked the weapons with a worried expression. "I think there are more weapons than we can use." Spike commented idly.
Buffy looked at him. "Do you know what he's doing?" She pinned him with her eyes.
Spike had some idea, but he wasn't going to tell her that. "Sorry Ducks. Magick isn't my strong suit. More Dru's line." He shrugged.
Buffy didn't quite believe him, but she let it go. She really wasn't sure she wanted to know. She was certain that Giles wouldn't be calling any demons.
Spike made a display of looking at his watch. "Just a few more hours. If you and the Watcher want to talk ... Or anything." He met the Slayer's eyes.
"Maybe you should do it now."
Buffy's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"I never took you for blind or stupid Slayer." Spike said. He'd never seen her look so vulnerable, not even when Angelus had held a sword to her throat.
"This may be your last chance." He pointed out gently.
Buffy stood still and looked at Spike for a minute before she nodded. At him or herself, neither was certain. "I think the weapons are good."
*-*-*-*
Spike watched the pair work their ritual. He told the Slayer the truth, he didn't know much about magick, but even he knew not to interrupt. He saw the Watcher slump against the table as they finished the incantation. Saw him drink the juice that Rayne handed him. Spike didn't say a word until Rayne began to clear the altar. "You might want to check on the Slayer."
Giles immediately straightened and he looked at Spike. "What's wrong with Buffy?"
Spike shrugged. "Not sure. She went upstairs to your room."
"Did you do something to her?" Giles asked. Spike gave him his 'who me?' expression. Giles raised his eyes heavenward and went to check on her.
Spike looked at Ethan, "What did he do?"
Ethan shook his head. "Something very foolish. What did you do?"
"Just a little nudge." Spike said with an attempt at an innocent expression.
*************
Giles walked into their bedroom with a purposeful stride. "Buffy? Are you all ..." He stopped and his words trailed off. She stood in front of the mirror in a recreation of what he'd shown her the night before. Her top gaped, and since her back was to him, he also had a clear view of her backside. He stood transfixed at the sight.
"you said that you didn't let them look." Buffy said, meeting his eyes in the mirror and slowly stood up straight. "It occurred to me that you didn't say that you didn't. Did you look?"
Giles swallowed with difficulty and tried to read her expression, but couldn't. When she turned to face him, he found that he couldn't lie. Unable to speak, he simply nodded.
Buffy walked towards him slowly. "And?"
"And what?" Giles asked as she stopped just a foot in front of him.
"Did I pass inspection?" Buffy asked as she looked up at him.
Giles was uncertain of what she wanted. "Buffy, you don't need me to tell you how lovely you are."
"Maybe that's exactly what I need." Buffy said softly. "You've never told me that before."
"What is this all about?" Giles asked confused, yet excited.
"Fear." Buffy stated simply. "I'm afraid that I won't have another chance ... That ..."
"What do you want?" Giles asked.
"Do you love me like a daughter?" Buffy asked in a near whisper. He was quiet for so long that she began to think that he wouldn't answer.
"No." Giles answered finally, quietly.
"How do you love me?" Buffy asked next.
Giles gave an almost smile. "Let me count the ways." Her eyes asked for more, but he didn't know what. "I love you. Isn't that enough?"
"Not today." Buffy told him. "I need more than the words. I need you to show me."
To say that Giles was shocked was an under statement. "Show you ... How?" Buffy leaned up and kissed him gently on the mouth. "The only way we haven't shown each other." Giles stared at her in incomprehension. "Do you want to make love to me?" She asked, becoming uncertain.
Giles' eyes widened, he was stunned. He reached out a hand and gently ran a finger down her cheek. "So beautiful." Buffy leaned in to his caress. "How could any man not want you? But Buffy ..."
Buffy stopped his words with a hand over his lips. "No buts." She said softly. She replaced her hand with her lips and kissed him again.
Giles tried to remain impassive at first, he really did. He wasn't certain where this had come from. Was she seeking comfort? Had Ethan cast a spell? He felt her hands slide up his chest and all thoughts as to why fled. All thought fled, period. His arms enclosed her small frame and held her close as he returned the kiss.
Buffy relaxed against him when she felt him respond. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she opened her mouth in invitation and he swept his tongue inside. She slowly moved them to towards the bed when she felt his body' response to hers.
When the back of her knees hit the bed, she grasped the hem of his T-shirt and broke the kiss just long enough to lift it over his head. She brought her mouth back to his and she let her hands roam his chest. She was fascinated by his chest hair that tickled her palms. When Giles didn't reciprocate, she pulled her own top off, followed by her bra.
Giles hands covered her breasts as Buffy placed soft kisses along his jaw, down his neck and across his chest. Her hand slid down to caress him through his jeans, he groaned and moved into her hand. At that point, he decided that she'd been in control long enough. He moved his hands from her breasts to under her arms, picked her up and threw her on the bed. Giles looked at her, sprawled on the bed and followed her down.
Her breasts pressed tightly against his chest, he took her mouth again. He moved his hand over her stomach, to the snap of her jeans, undid them. With Buffy's help he pushed them off along with her panties. Then, they went to work on his.
In no time at all, they were both naked on the bed. Their hands, as well as their mouthes, explored each other. Giles slowly kissed down Buffy's body. He started on her neck, took his time on her breasts, then moved over her stomach and lower.
*-*-*-*
Ethan and Spike sat at the kitchen table and played gin. The pair were oddly quiet as they played. Exchanging the occasional grins at the echoes that came from upstairs.
"It would seem that Ripper has not lost his touch." Ethan commented blandly after a muted shout of 'Giles' from Buffy that was definitely a sound of pleasure.
"I hate to admit it, but I rather like the Slayer and her Watcher." Spike said. "The fact that it'll annoy my brooding sire is a bonus though. Do you think they'd let me tell him?"
"She'll run Ripper a merry dance." Ethan commented. "For however long she lives." Ethan turned thoughtful. "The one thing that I do not understand is why the Council would want to be rid of our Slayer and Watcher. They are quite an effective pair."
"I've wondered that myself." Spike responded. "The Slayer took down Lothos and the Master. Not to mention that bloody demon Mayor and his renegade Slayer."
"Renegade Slayer?" Ethan echoed. "That would be Faith, yes?" He looked at his cards and laid them down. "Gin."
Spike narrowed his eyes. "You'd best not be cheatin' Mate." He threw his cards down. "She'd lain comatose in Sunnyhell for the longest time. She and Dru had quite a bit in common that one."
"A psychotic Slayer." Ethan commented. "Sounds like fun."
"She and the Slayer fought it out." Spike told him.
"And our own dear Buffy one, I assume, considering that she's here and the other has been replaced." Ethan said. "Perhaps we should look into this." He said almost idly. "Starting with Travers, I think."
"Who'da thought that we would be helpin a Slayer?" Spike asked with a shake of his head.
"What is the world coming to?" Ethan asked in return.
*-*-*-*
Upstairs, Giles held Buffy tightly in the aftermath of their explosive lovemaking. "Giles?" Buffy said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
Giles relaxed his hold a bit, but did not let go. He was afraid that she'd vanish. "Why Buffy?"
"I've done a lot of things I regret Giles." Buffy told him. "If I don't come back ... Well, I didn't want there to be one more. I wanted you to know."
"What did you want me to know?" Giles asked, then held his breath, not even realizing that he did so.
"That I love you." Buffy said. "More than anything."
Giles closed his eyes and breathed again. "I love you too Buffy." He opened his eyes and looked at her upturned face. He leaned down, intending to give her a gentle kiss, but it escalated quickly.
They took their time and once again explored each other's bodies. Buffy lightly raked her nails up the backs of his thighs, over his butt and his lower back, he shivered. Buffy ran his fingers lightly down her throat, between her breasts, over her stomach and hip to her thigh. He slowly reversed the trail up the back of her thigh, over one cheek, he stopped on her lower back. He gently let his fingertips trace the indention between her butt cheeks. He groaned into her mouth when she squirmed against him. Buffy jerked when he slid two fingers into her from behind and her gasp broke the kiss. "God Giles!" She nudged him onto his back and straddles him. The knowledge that one or both of them might not return lent a certain desperation to their lovemaking. She looked down at him and he met her eyes, if one afternoon is all they might get, then they would make the most of it. Buffy leaned down and gently nipped his collar bone, then kissed the bite. She kissed her way to first one nipple then the other. She nuzzled her nose into his chest hair, before she kissed her way to his belly button. She dipped her tongue inside.
Giles jerked in reaction to the touch of her tongue. His breaths came in pants as she moved farther down. His hands clenched and his hips rose off of the bed and his cry of "Buffy!" reverberated throughout the house when she took his tip into her mouth.
(Downstairs, two pair of eyes shot to the ceiling.)
Buffy put her hands on his thighs as she knelt between them. She brushed her thumbs against his balls and his hips rose once again off the bed.
Giles wasn't certain just how much more he could take. He didn't think it was much. He tugged her hands until she slid back up his body. He brought her mouth to his as he positioned her hips. He thrust his hips up as he thrust his tongue into her mouth.
He held her to him as he rolled them over and began to thrust into her with long powerful strokes. He slid his hands beneath her butt and angled her higher as she wrapped her legs around his hips. He relished the sounds she made with each of his hard thrusts, unaware of his own sounds of pleasure.
"Giles!" Buffy cried out and shuddered as her inner muscles convulsed around him. His own hoarse cry of "Buffy!" followed a moment later.
Giles laid gasping on top of Buffy, his body still shivered in pleasure. Buffy had never felt more complete in her life. This time, it was she that held him tightly. Giles kissed her softly and rolled to his side. His arms closed around her and he shut his eyes. "That was the most intense experience of my life." He said as he tried to catch his breath.
"That's good, right?" Buffy asked, her own breathing unsteady.
"Good?" Giles echoed. "Try bloody incredible."
"I think I truly understand the phrase 'dying of pleasure' now." Buffy said as she laid her head on his chest.
*-*-*-*
Ethan looked at Spike. "I really should look into soundproofing those bedrooms."
Spike snickered. "How much longer should we give them?" He asked with a grin.
"Too much longer and we won't have to worry about the Council doing Rupert in." Ethan commented wryly. "He'll collapse from exhaustion."
"I'm not sure he'd care." Spike replied. "I can think of a lot worse ways to go."
"Preferable even to old age I should think." Ethan agreed.
"Do you think we can keep them both alive through this mess?" Spike asked.
"How long would one survive without the other?" Ethan asked in return. "No, we either keep both alive or, one way or another, we lose them both."
"I guess we'll just have to make sure they both make it." Spike concluded.
*-*-*-*
Upstairs, Buffy and Giles had started to dress, only to make love again. This time against the wall. They knew though that it was time. They dressed carefully, Giles in a black T-shirt, black jeans, and a black leather jacket. Buffy wore a black, long-sleeved top, black stretch pants. She, too, had a black leather jacket and they both had on black ankle boots. Buffy looked at him as they placed weapons on various in strategic places in their clothes. He didn't look quite as fierce as when he shoved that sword through the Mayor's heart, but close. She though he looked like a pirate, only one thing missing. She took one gold, hoop earring out of her own ear as she crossed the room to him. She reached up and put it in the whole in his left ear.
"What's that for?" Giles asked, but didn't try to stop her.
Buffy finished and lowered her arms. "Seemed right. It ... fit."
Giles put a hand to her cheek. "Time to go Luv." He said softly. Buffy put her hand over his and held it to her cheek. She closed her eyes, just for a moment, and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, they met his steadily. "Let's get Wes."